We need to get aggregate demand back into a normal, healthy position, which it's not, billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates says of the U.S. economy, on Fareed Zakaria GPS. “I mean, the levers we have in this economy of stimulation, you know, the financial levers – look at the size of the deficit, the monetary levers…look at interest rates."

“Those two levers are on. Totally on extreme levels that are an attempt to get people to say, wow, the hurdle rate for investments – whether it's building housing, roads or accompanying doing a new factory – those hurdle rates are lower than ever and yet this money sits on the sidelines.”

Watch the full interview on "Fareed Zakaria GPS" this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET.

At the start of the interview Bill Gates mentioned the devastating impact that sequestration would have on scientific breakthroughs that affect human health because the U.S. funds the world's medical research through the NIH budget. Where is that part of the interview on the CNN GFP website? Please post so we can share that on Facebook, etc.

I just heard Gates say nurses do not need a college education! Has he been living under a rock for the last 100 years or so? An RN has to have either an AAS in nursing, a diploma from a "diploma school" few of which exist today, or a BSN! At least 50% of nurses have BSNs.

It is beyond me why Bill Gates is being asked his opinion about Education. He and wife are pushing for technology in education to gain financial benefit. Technology is great and offers wonderful resources in the clasroom, but it does NOT replace good old fashion teaching of the basics. If the kids do not know the basic concepts of reading, writing and mathematics, HOW in the world can they use technology effectively. Now with National Standards in education kids are to take tests on computers? What hapened to meeting the individual needs of students and different learning modalities? Chilren do not learn at the same rate and they don't all come prepared to learn grade-level materia. I encourage parents to look closely at these National Standards and ask local educators how these standards will be implemented. Also, what systems will be put in place to ensure all kids are learning. Technology seems to be phasing out teachers. Technology does not teach social interaction.

MoeJo, you make excellent points. Gates has encouraged teaching to the test rather than real learning. It's good that he is experimenting with new approaches, but his may not be the best ones. Furthermore, the entire conversation was about how to make kids better workers. A person is more than that. What about making them artists, athletes, and most important citizens. The ignorance of much of the American public might be due to a lack of citizen education and a lack of teaching logical thinking, which so many students are terribly poor at. Ask any teacher.

.. this is for people who are disciplined in their studies, and already have the basic knowledge acquired in traditional schools,,,, over time there is a need for further training there this method is wonderful .. TFA

Bill Gates has been through the grind of an environment and "gain" aproach that brought USA economy to this day. It will sound insanely unparallel to any leader but the cilicone valley was no different than Gangan style- was no different than Russia in the 1995- No different then Turkey in 1983-4.
Bill Gate showed the clear way out before leaving this world. He was than quiete aware that none of his warnings would be taken seriously. He did it in-stead. "“I mean, the levers we have in this economy of stimulation, you know, the financial levers" says it all to those who can understand. Being as young and unexperianced as I am, I would have said "speculative" instead of "stimulation". But a touch of political behavior always helps.

Mr. Gates looked really anxious when he was addressing MOOCs for low-income, intro-level college students and their effects on state universities and community colleges. Perhaps he would not like people to know how much he is investing in exploring the reduction of faculty:

"On November 13th 2012, the foundation awarded 12 grants, totaling more than $3 million, in new investments in MOOCs."

I wish that rather than talk about "what we need to know" about what these classes can "do for students," he would have talked about his actual moves and plans and what his vision is for education in the future. If he's investing in overhauling all of education in a way that gives great wealth to a few teachers while many low-wage "facilitators" work directly with the students, maybe he should be frank about it.

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